Being an overweight teen can be a difficult experience. Fifteen percent of American teens are overweight, with another 15 percent at risk of becoming overweight. Making changes to live a healthier lifestyle in your teenage years can create good habits that will help you achieve and maintain a good weight throughout your life.
Healthy Body Image
Keep a healthy attitude about your weight and the weight-loss process. Teen bodies are still growing and developing, so it is important to avoid dangerous crash diets. Although thinness is popular in society, every body is unique and you should not aspire to being underweight. Ask your doctor to help you find a healthy weight for your height.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is important for weight loss at any age. Cut 500 to 1,000 calories every day to lose up to 2 lbs. per week, which you may be able to achieve by cutting back on snacks or eating smaller portions. Do not drop below 1,200 calories a day, or your body may believe that you are starving and burn fat more slowly.
Get Exercise
Losing weight requires you to burn more calories than you consume. Eating less is one component of this, but exercising more is the other. You need 30 minutes of exercise five days a week at the very least, but more is better. Try to get 60 to 90 minutes of exercise such as jogging, team sports or swimming.
Get Enough Sleep
Teens need a lot of sleep, but it can be hard to get enough sleep when homework and after-school activities keep you up late and school mornings start at the break of dawn. But getting enough sleep is important for weight loss. Getting too little sleep can increase your appetite, which may lead to weight gain.
Member Comments